Pocket-cuspidor.



PATENTED NOV. 8, 1903.

W. G. MITCHELL.

' POCKET GUSPIDOR.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.19, 1903.

no MODEL.

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Ji'atented November 3, I905.

PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM CLIFFORD MITCHELL, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

POCKET-CUSPIDOR.

SYECIFICA'IIION forming .part of Letters Patent No. 743,394, dated November 3, 1903.

Application filed January 19,1903. $eria1No.139.558. (No model.)

. To all iuhom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM CLIFFORD MITCHELL, a citizen of the United States of America, residing in the city and county of Denver and State of Colorado,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pocket-Cuspidors; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in pocket-cuspidors, my object being to provide a device of simple, cheap, and unique construction adapted to be conveniently carried about in the pocket, whereby it is always ready for use. The inexpensiveness of the device'makes it practicable for the user to have a new one each day, if desired, while the old one may be burned and all germs de stroyed. The device is valuable from a sanitary standpoint, and is especially adapted for use by persons afliicted with tuberculosis of the lungs, forming a receptacle for sputum, whereby the spread of the disease by infection is limited. It is well known that sputum of consumptives deposited on the ground under ordinary conditions soon becomes dry and, mingling with the dust of the atmosphere, is liable to convey the disease to those who breathe the air thus laden with diseasegerms. 7

My object is to overcome this difficulty and provide a device of such character that there shall no longer be any excuse for general or promiscuous expectoration on the part of people affiicted with diseases which may be contracted in the manner aforesaid; and to this end the invention consists of the features hereinafter described and claimed, all of whichwill be fully understood by. reference to the accompanying drawings, in which is illustrated an embodiment thereof.

In the drawings, Figure l is the blank from which the case of my improved device is formed. Fig. 2 is a section showing half of the device partly folded. This section is indicated by line 2 2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the complete device. Fig. 4c is a section taken on the line 4 4:, Fig. 3. Fig.

5 is a diagrammatic view, on a smaller scale, illustrating the manner of folding the different parts in the formation of the complete de= vice from the blank.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the views.

The lines upon which the blank is folded to form the case of the device are indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1. The section-line 2 2 is broken to distinguish it from the dotted lines, which indicate the folds of theblank.

The parts into which the blank is divided by the dotted lines will be designated by the reference characters and the location of each in the complete device explained. The blank is preferably composed of paper of sufficient stiffness to form the case, whose interior is lined with a layer of some suitable absorbent material, as cotton. The folding-lines of the blank are so arranged that when the device is completed it is wedge-shaped in end view, having rectangular sides and bottom.

Let the numeral 5 designate each of the rectangular side parts; 6, the flaps adapted to be turned downwardly into the receptacle at the top and forming guide-walls to facilitate the passage of the sputum to the absorb= 'ent material below and also to hold the opposing surfaces of the absorbent material apart; 7, the rectangular bottom; 8, the triangular or wedge-shaped ends, and 9 9 1O 10 four parts which are folded inwardly at the opposite ends of the device and form a number of layers on opposite sides of the mouth of the case over which layers the flaps 6 are passed. The blank is folded inwardly on the diagonal lines separating the parts 9 and 10. There are four of each of these parts 9 and 10, and they are alternately arranged in interlocking relation, as shown in Fig. 5,whereby four thicknesses of the material are located adjacent each of the side parts 5. Each fiap 6 is passed over these four members at the top and bent downwardly adjacent the innermost member. Referring to Fig. 5 of the drawings, it may be stated that theflaps are passed in between the two adjacent parallel members 10. In Fig. 5 the device is represented elongated, showing the folding parts arranged in zigzag form in order to distin- "uish the diiferent parts and clearly indicate the manner of folding them informing the device illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. After the case is formed and before the flaps are tucked in the absorbent material 12 is placed in position from the top, after which the flaps are pushed in and cover said material at the top.

The absorbent material consists, preferably, of cotton, which, as shown in the drawings, consists of a folded layer doubled at the bottom, its upper extremities being located outside of the flaps, as heretofore explained. This absorbent material may be impregnated or saturated with any suitable antiseptic substance.

When the device is completed, the mouth between the two flaps is normally closed. However, by pressing the two ends toward each other at the top this mouth will gap open, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3, and close again automatically as soon as the pressure ceases to act. The blank is notched at each corner, as indicated at A.

It is preferred that the absorbent material be secured to the inside of the case by the use of some sticky substance, as paste or mucilage. In this way the upper extremities are held securely in place outside of the flaps and are prevented from moving downwardly during use. This is considered quite an important feature. For. this purpose it is easy to place paste or mucilage on the blank where it will come in contact with the absorbent substance before the absorbent material is put in place.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. -A pocket-cuspidor composed of a wedgeshaped receptacle tapering inwardly from the bottom to the mouth where the side walls are normally in such proximity to each other as to close the mouth, the device being formed of material of sufficient flexibility, to cause the mouth to open when pressure is applied at opposite ends, and again close when the pressure ceases to act, and absorbent material applied to the device on the inside and extending from the bottom upwardly on-both sides, the device having inwardly-turned flaps at the top which overlap the absorbent material on both sides.

2. A pocketecuspidor comprising a rectangular bottom, rectangular sides sloping inwardly from the bottom to the top, triangular ends, flaps turned inwardly at the top to form mouth-walls, and especially acting to hold the opposing surfaces of the absorbent material apart, and a quantity of absorbent material located in the receptacle, the said absorbent material consisting of a centrally divided layer intact at the bottom and extending upwardly on opposite sides above thelower edge of the flaps just outside of the latter.

3. A pocket-cuspidor comprising a rectangular bottom, rectangular sides sloping inwardly from the bottom to the top, end flaps turned inwardly at the top to form mouthwalls, and absorbent material placed within the case thus formed and secured by the use of some sticky substance, the flaps being turned down over the upper extremities of the absorbent material, substantially as described.

4. As an improved article of manufacture, a device of the class described provided with wedge-shaped ends, a rectangular bottom, inclined rectangular sides, flaps turned inwardly at the top, a plurality of layers between each flap and each inclined wall, and a lining composed of absorbent material applied to the device and extending upwardly on both sides, the upper extremities of the absorbent lining being overlapped by the inwardlyturned top flaps, whereby the lining layers on opposite sides are separated at'the top.

5. A device of the class described comprising a single piece of material folded to form a rectangular bottom, two rectangular sides, two end flaps forming an extension of the sides, two wedge-shaped ends and four inwardly-folded parts lying adjacent each side and over which the mouth-flaps are folded, and a quantity of absorbent material placed within the device, doubled at the bottom and extending upwardly on both sides a sufficient distance to be overlapped by the two end flaps.

6. A wedge-shaped receptacle of the class described, said receptacle being formed from a single piece of material having the general shape of a rectangle, the said piece being notched at the corners and having central flaps extending from two opposite sides, each side wall being reinforced by four inward folds and the flaps being turned inwardly over the top edges of said folds, in combina tion with an absorbent lining which extends upwardly from the bottom on opposite sides of the device and is overlapped by the top flaps.

7. .A pocket-cuspidor having a rectangular bottom, inclined rectangular sides, triangular ends, and inwardly turned flaps to form moutlnwalls, the sides being reinforced by inward folds located between the side walls of the flaps, and a quantityof absorbent material located in the receptacle andexte'nding upwardly on both sides, the upper extremities of the said material being overlapped and separated by the top flaps.

8. Apocket-cuspidor comprising a recep-.

tacle having inwardly-turned flaps and a lining of loose absorbent material doubled at the bottom and extending upwardly on two opposite sides of the device, the top flaps overlapping and separating the two absorbentlayers at the top.

9. A pocket-cuspidor composed of a receptacle whose side walls are normally in such proximity to each other as to close the mouth, the device being formed of material of sufficient flexibility to cause the mouth to open when pressure is applied at opposite ends and again closed when the pressure ceases to act, the said receptacle having inwardly-turned flaps at the top, and being provided with a loose absorbent lining which extends upwhereby the said absorbent lining is sepawardly on two opposite sides and is overrated at the top by the said flaps. 1o lapped by the top flaps. In testimony whereof I affix my signature 10. A pocket-cuspidor comprising a recepin presence of two witnesses. 5 tacle having inwardly-turned flaps at the top, WILLIAM CLIFFORD MITCHELL.

and a lining of absorbent material which ex- W'itnesses: tends upwardly from the bottom on both PAUL WEISS,

sides and is overlapped by the top flaps LEONARD DATES. 

